Sector comparison · Ireland

Accommodation and Food Service Activities vs Education

Median annual earnings · Source: CSO 2024

109% gap

Education pays 109% more than Accommodation and Food Service Activities · €54,413 vs €26,000

Education pays a median of €54,413 per year nationally, against €26,000 for Accommodation and Food Service Activities — a gap of 109%. Over the longer run, Accommodation and Food Service Activities has been the faster-growing of the two, at +2.8% per year on average — so while Education pays more today, Accommodation and Food Service Activities is closing the gap over time. The difference between the two sectors is not uniform across Ireland: it is widest in Dublin, where the gap reaches €22,724.

Growth Comparison

+2.8%

Accommodation and Food Service Activities annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

+1%

Education annual growth (CAGR) since 2011

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Accommodation and Food Service Activities

€17,798€19,849€21,899€23,950€26,000201120142017202020232024

Education

€45,823€47,971€50,118€52,266€54,413201120142017202020232024

County-by-County Comparison

County Accommodation and Food Service Activities Education Diff
Dublin €28,913 €51,637 €-22,724
Wicklow €26,110 €52,166 €-26,056
Cork €24,866 €53,500 €-28,634
Laois €23,402 €52,426 €-29,024
Kerry €26,213 €55,264 €-29,051
Meath €25,220 €54,413 €-29,193
Offaly €22,858 €52,133 €-29,275
Wexford €23,399 €52,898 €-29,499
Limerick €26,636 €56,249 €-29,613
Kilkenny €24,949 €55,185 €-30,236
Cavan €23,480 €53,720 €-30,240
Kildare €25,757 €56,440 €-30,683
Westmeath €23,604 €54,355 €-30,751
Longford €20,882 €52,234 €-31,352
Carlow €23,630 €55,074 €-31,444
Clare €26,596 €58,118 €-31,522
Louth €21,950 €53,541 €-31,591
Waterford €23,381 €55,086 €-31,705
Galway €27,265 €59,410 €-32,145
Tipperary €22,313 €55,404 €-33,091
Roscommon €23,724 €57,102 €-33,378
Mayo €24,839 €58,895 €-34,056
Sligo €25,204 €59,313 €-34,109
Leitrim €22,691 €57,183 €-34,492
Monaghan €22,646 €57,193 €-34,547
Donegal €20,663 €55,582 €-34,919

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Accommodation and Food Service Activities or Education?
Education pays more, with a median salary of €54,413 compared to €26,000 for Accommodation and Food Service Activities — a difference of 109%.
What is the salary difference between Accommodation and Food Service Activities and Education?
The median salary difference is €28,413 per year (109% higher for Education).
Which sector's salaries are growing faster: Accommodation and Food Service Activities or Education?
Accommodation and Food Service Activities salaries are growing faster, at a compound annual rate of +2.8%, compared to +1% for Education.
Where is the gap between Accommodation and Food Service Activities and Education widest?
The gap is widest in Dublin, where Accommodation and Food Service Activities pays €28,913 and Education pays €51,637 — a difference of €22,724.